Mozambican magistrates defend punishment of social media crimes – Parliament

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambican magistrates defend punishment of social media crimes – Parliament

11:23 CAT | 24 Jul 2017

File photo

Magistrates in Beira and Chimoio in central Mozambique , defend the punishment of crimes committed through social media networks, as a means to stop offences committed through this type of means, according to a communiqué issued by parliament.

A note from the Assembly of the Republic released on Friday in Maputo records that the position of the judicial magistrates and the Public Prosecutor’s Office was expressed during a hearing meeting promoted by the Parliamentary Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality (CACDHL).

“During the discussions, participants expressed their sentiment regarding the need to sanction crimes that have plagued Mozambicans,” the note says. Offences include crimes committed through social media networks, domestic violence, premature marriages, child sexual abuse and robberies.

The meetings in Beira, Sofala province and Chimoio in Manica were intended to collect proposals for the revision of the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Code of Execution of Penal Measures both involving deprivation of liberty and not.

The Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality of the Assembly of the Republic opened on Tuesday with debates on the revision of criminal legislation, aimed at replacing laws that date mostly from colonial times.

In a press conference of the announcement of the start of the hearing, commission chairman Edson Macuácuá said that the changes in mind for the criminal law are intended to incorporate concern for dignity and respect for human rights.

“There is a concern to ensure respect for the dignity of the human person and for rights to ensure that the entire Mozambican criminal system has as its ultimate goal the rehabilitation of citizens in conflict with the law,” said Edson Macuácuá.

The amendments, Macuácuá said, would correspond to developments in international and comparative law, while always being based on the provisions of the Mozambique constitution.

Source: Lusa